July 25, 2026
20th Khordrak
The Torchbearers took time to prepare for their next move. Over the next week, spellcasters acquired new spells. Gunter interviewed the kobolds about nearby dangers. Ormar took time to integrate the kobolds into Vira’s fighting units.
4th Dulthila
The Torchbearers held a war council. They decided to investigate the Eyrie, a lookout post high on the mountainside with a commanding view of the road from Alfs/Orcsdike along the foot of the mountains. This road turns northeast and leads across the plains to Scheffelden; also, armies and supplies moving down from the Eisenfluss bridge eventually join it for the last couple of dozen miles before reaching the Dike.
5th Dulthila
The Torchbearers searched for the path to the Eyrie. In the afternoon, they were overflown by the white dragon, which still seemed not to notice them.
7th Dulthila
At night, Gunter noticed shadows moving at the edge of the firelight.He saw dim red eyeshine. Ormar and Hilda took their magical lantern ahead to investigate, Alwin trailed behind them, and Gunter stayed at the campfire.
The three ahead were plunged into darkness as the lantern was obscured. Something clamped a hand over Hilda’s mouth, and something ghostly passed into her chest and began drinking her life force.
At the same time, the fire dimmed and nearly died. Behind Gunter, a shadow was drinking the warmth of the fire, its eyes flaring into orange blazes.
Magrun with his firesight could not see Hilda’s assailant, but did see a handprint of cold on her face. Hearing Magrun call its location, Ormar swung his magic sword where the arm should be, and Hilda was released.
She spun and unleashed burning hands on the evil spirit, killing it.
Gunter used one of his last remaining fire arrows to ignite the shadow at the campfire, which fled in fear of the light.
8th Dulthila
The Torchbearers found booted footprints, and followed them to the base of a forbidding cliff. Near the top was a cleft with an overhang. The Eyrie would be inside.
Drinking a potion of enhance ability, Dorethin began climbing the cliff. As she climbed, the Torchbearers began to splice their rope together, planning to have her set it so the unskilled members of the party could climb. They realized they didn’t have enough rope to reach the Eyrie, let alone extra for safety lines. So they retreated and planned their ascent.
